[Frequency of anti toxocara antibodies in schoolchildren with chronic cough and eosinophilia in urban and rural area of Ahvaz, Iran in 2006]

It has been suggested that chronic cough may be atributed to toxocariasis. There are few epidemiological studies carried out on this subject in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of anti-toxocara antibodies in children with chronic cough. In a cross sectional study during a tuberculin survey in Ahvaz, a city in southwest Iran a total of 4206 children selected by randomized two-stage cluster sampling. Children with chronic cough were investigated for toxocariasis. Initially, the absolute eosinophil count was determined. Next, children with eosinophilia [>500/mm[3]] and hypereosinophilia [>1000/mm[3]] were tested for toxocara-IgG - ELISA kit [Ibl, Hamburg]. Other epidemiological data collected by a questionnaire and analyzed with 95% confidence interval using SPSS 11.5 software. Of total 115 children with chronic cough 29 [25.2%] were eosinophilic, among them 34.5% were hypereosinophilic, 16 [13.9%] were ELISA-IgG positive for T. canis. No correlation between intestinal parasites and toxocariasis was detected [P>0.05]. There was also no significant age, gender, and living site difference in toxocara antibody frequency [P>0.05]. Anti toxocara antibody was detected in more than half of children with chronic cough. Intestinal parasites are not associated with hypereosinophilia and show no cross reacting to toxocara antibody

Frequency of anti toxocara antibodies in school children with chronic cough and eosinophilia in Ahwaz, Iran

To determine the seroprevalence of Toxocara in children having chronic cough. It is a cross sectional study conducted at Ahwaz a city southwest Iran, from Sep 2006 to Dec 2006. Analyses were based on 115 children [randomized cluster sampling] with chronic cough [cough with duration of 2 weeks or more]. Laboratory exams; CBC, eosinophils absolute count and tests for intestinal parasites were performed. Eosinophils <500/mm3 were considered as eosinophilia. IgG anti-toxocara antibodies test was carried out by ELISA method for eosinophitic child. Out of total 115 children 29 [25.2] were eosinophilic, among them 10 [34.48%] hypereosinophilic and 40 [34.78%] had intestinal parasites. Frequency of Toxocara-IgG in chronic cough, eosinophilic and hypereosinophilic was 13.9%, 55.2% and 80% respectively. Chronic cough associated eosinophilia among children in Ahwaz may be contributing to Toxocara infection